How to cancel a Carnival cruise

You can cancel a Carnival cruise by calling Carnival's reservations line at 1-888-CARNIVAL (1-888-227-6482) or by logging into your account on Carnival.com and requesting cancellation through "Manage My Booking." You will need your booking reference number, which appears on your confirmation email. Cancellation takes effect when ready, but your refund depends on how far away your sail date is and what type of fare you booked.

Carnival processes cancellations during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time, and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time. If you cancel online, you will receive a confirmation email within 24 hours. If you call, ask the agent to email you a cancellation confirmation — do not rely on a verbal confirmation alone.

Key Takeaways

  • Call 1-888-CARNIVAL or use your Carnival.com account to cancel; you need your booking reference number either way.
  • Refund amounts depend on your fare type and how many days remain before your sail date — standard fares usually forfeit payment if you cancel within 75 days.
  • Refundable fares and certain promotions allow cancellation with a full refund up to a set number of days before departure.
  • Carnival issues refunds to the original payment method within 7 to 14 business days after cancellation is processed.
  • If you cannot reach Carnival by phone, you can also request cancellation by mail or through a travel agent who booked your cruise.

Refund amounts based on when you cancel

Carnival's refund policy divides into time windows. If you cancel more than 75 days before your sail date, you receive a full refund of your cruise fare. Between 75 and 15 days before departure, you lose 50 percent of the cruise fare. Within 15 days of your sail date, you forfeit 100 percent of the cruise fare — meaning you receive no refund.

These windows explore to standard fares. If you purchased a refundable fare (sometimes called a "Refundable Cruise Fare" or similar product), the cancellation windows are longer — typically you can cancel up to 5 to 10 days before departure and receive a full refund. Check your confirmation email to see which fare type you booked; it will be listed under "Fare Details" or "Booking Summary."

Onboard credits, beverage packages, and shore excursions are usually non-refundable once purchased. If you cancel your cruise, those charges do not transfer to a future booking unless Carnival's policy specifically allows it at the time of cancellation.

What happens to deposits and payments you already made

Carnival typically requires a deposit at booking (usually 25 percent of the cruise fare) and the balance 75 days before departure. If you cancel, Carnival refunds only the amount you are may have access to to under the policy window that applies to your cancellation date. The deposit is not treated separately — it counts as part of your total fare.

If you paid in full and cancel within the 50 percent refund window, Carnival returns 50 percent of everything you paid. If you cancel within 15 days, you receive nothing. Refunds go back to the original payment method — the same credit card, debit card, or bank account you used to book. Processing takes 7 to 14 business days after Carnival receives and processes your cancellation request.

Cancellation due to illness, death, or emergency

Carnival may waive or reduce cancellation penalties if you cancel because of a serious illness, death in your when ready family, or a documented emergency. You will need to provide proof — a doctor's note for illness, a death certificate for a death, or documentation of the emergency situation. Call 1-888-CARNIVAL and ask to speak with a supervisor or the Guest Relations department; do not try to handle this through the online cancellation tool.

Approval is not automatic. Carnival reviews each request individually and decides whether to grant a waiver. Even if approved, you may receive a credit toward a future cruise rather than a cash refund, depending on how close you are to your sail date. Get the name and employee ID of anyone you speak with, and ask them to email you a summary of what was discussed and what decision was made.

Using a travel agent to cancel

If a travel agent booked your cruise, you can cancel through them instead of calling Carnival directly. The travel agent will submit the cancellation request to Carnival on your behalf. Refund amounts and timelines remain the same, but the refund may be issued to the travel agent first, who then processes it back to you — this can add a few extra days.

Contact your travel agent by phone or email and ask them to confirm they received your cancellation request and when they will submit it to Carnival. Ask them to send you a copy of the cancellation confirmation once Carnival processes it. If you booked through a major travel site like Expedia or Costco Travel, you may need to cancel through that site's customer service rather than contacting Carnival directly.

Cancellation by mail if you cannot reach Carnival by phone

If you are unable to reach Carnival by phone during business hours, you can request cancellation by mail. Send a letter to Carnival Cruise Line, Guest Services, 3655 NW 87th Avenue, Miami, FL 33178. Include your booking reference number, the names of all passengers, your contact phone number and email address, and a clear statement that you want to cancel your cruise.

Mail takes longer to process than a phone call or online request. Send your letter via certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of delivery. Keep a copy for your records. Carnival will process the cancellation once they receive and open your letter, which typically takes 5 to 10 business days depending on mail delivery time. Follow up by phone a week after you mail the letter to confirm receipt.

What to do if you want to rebook instead of cancel

If you want to keep your cruise but change the date, you do not have to cancel. Instead, call 1-888-CARNIVAL and ask about rebooking to a different sail date. Carnival allows you to move your reservation to another cruise at no additional charge if the new cruise costs the same or less. If the new cruise is more expensive, you pay the difference. If it is less expensive, Carnival may issue you a credit toward future cruises rather than a refund.

Rebooking is often faster than canceling and rebooking separately, because you avoid the cancellation penalty and the refund processing time. Ask the agent whether your current fare type is valid on the new sail date, because some promotional fares are not transferable to different departure dates or ships.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel a Carnival cruise less than 15 days before departure?

Yes, you can cancel at any time, but if you cancel within 15 days of your sail date, you forfeit 100 percent of your cruise fare under the standard policy. The only exception is if you have a refundable fare or if Carnival approves a waiver due to illness, death, or emergency. Call when ready if you need to cancel this close to departure.

Do I lose money if I cancel a Carnival cruise?

It depends on when you cancel. More than 75 days before departure, you receive a full refund. Between 75 and 15 days out, you lose 50 percent. Within 15 days, you lose 100 percent. If you bought a refundable fare, you can cancel closer to departure and still receive a full refund — check your confirmation email to see which fare type you have.

How long does it take to get my money back after I cancel?

Carnival processes refunds within 7 to 14 business days after your cancellation is confirmed. The refund goes to the original payment method you used to book. If you paid by credit card, the refund appears as a credit on your statement. If you paid by bank transfer, the money returns to your account.

What if I cancel but Carnival never confirms it?

If you cancel online or by phone and do not receive a confirmation email within 24 hours, call 1-888-CARNIVAL again and ask them to look up your booking by reference number to verify the cancellation was processed. Keep the phone confirmation number from your first call. If Carnival has no record of the cancellation, request it again and ask the agent to email you a confirmation when ready.

Can I transfer my Carnival cruise to someone else instead of canceling?

Carnival allows you to change the names of passengers on your booking up to a certain point before departure — usually 5 to 7 days. Call 1-888-CARNIVAL to ask whether you can transfer your cruise to another person. There may be a fee, and the new passenger must meet any age or other requirements for that cruise. This is different from canceling and is often faster if you want someone else to use your reservation.